hurricane sandy affected four counties. homes were uprooted, dunes were obliterated, sand was blown into coastal ponds and local roads, exposing underground pipes, septic tanged -- tanks and other ewityle -- utilities. the largest wave of the storm was recorded at 47 feet. the island sustained severe road damage. in addition to damage covered under disaster reparations issued by the president urn the staff act, preliminary damage reports indicate damage of approximately $40 million to public infrastructure that will likely need to be covered by other agencies. this includes damage to harbors and channels as well as roadways which will require significant funding through army corps and the department of transportation. for rhode island, which has felt the effects of the economic downturn as much as any state and today ranks second in the nation in unemployment, recovery from the third major disaster in three years will be a significant challenge. this is a point emphasized by governor chafee who wrote to president obama abou